DETROIT – Marelli, a leading supplier of electric vehicle (EV) components, has secured a major contract to provide its Battery Management System (BMS) for a leading global automaker’s future battery electric vehicles (BEVs) starting in 2026. The BMS, known as the “brain” of the battery, is a critical component in EV design and will be supplied for vehicles in segments A, B, and C.
The supply of both the hardware and boot loader software for the BMS represents a significant milestone for Marelli, which has a long history of developing BMS solutions to meet the specific needs of its customers. Hannes Prenn, President of Marelli’s Electric Powertrain division, said in a statement, “This further reinforces our collaboration with global carmakers and recognizes the consolidated experience achieved by Marelli over the years in the development of BMS with different architectures.”
The BMS will be developed and tested in Italy and Japan by the Marelli Electric Powertrain teams, with production set to begin in 2026. The system, which monitors and controls the battery, will feature a distributed architecture that requires less cabling. Each Cell Module Controller (CMC) will be placed directly on the cell module and will handle measurements and communications as needed.
The Battery Management System has several important functions in an EV, including managing the stored power and capacity of the battery, delivering information on the battery’s operating conditions and status, and ensuring the monitoring, optimization, and protection of the battery.
Marelli’s extensive experience in the development of BMS and other key technologies for electrification, including e-motors, power electronics, and integrated e-axles systems, as well as its know-how in thermal design, makes the company well-positioned to provide a complete range of solutions to control, manage, and optimize the energy balance in EVs.
